Woman fleeing from police crashes SUV into tree; 3 children injured

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Three children were injured—two seriously—after a woman trying to evade police crashed her SUV into a tree.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the incident started around 8:40 a.m., when a caller reported that an SUV was ramming another car in the parking lot of the Welcome Inn in the 2800 block of Shadeland Avenue.

An officer nearby went to check on the call and saw the SUV leaving. The officer followed the vehicle but didn’t immediately engage the car’s lights or sirens.

IMPD Deputy Chief Chris Bailey said it became clear based on the “driving behavior of the car” that the SUV was trying to avoid the officer. Around the 3100 block of Shadeland, the officer activated his lights and sirens.

A short pursuit followed. The woman, identified as 41-year-old Aisha Moore, lost control of the car in the 3600 block of Hartman Drive and slammed into a tree.

It was only then that officers realized there were three children inside the vehicle; all three were taken to the hospital. A 5-year-old was in critical condition, a 4-year-old was in serious but stable condition and a 1-year-old suffered minor injuries, police said.

Moore was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for a blood draw. Bailey said the pursuit covered about five blocks.

“Very unfortunate situation,” Bailey said. “We’re praying for the children involved in this crash as well as our police officers who never want this to happen.”

Police said it appeared two of the children were not properly restrained in the vehicle. Moore was arrested on charges of neglect of a dependent, resisting law enforcement and criminal mischief.